Platform for freight-cars



NITED STATES PATENT Ormcn.

THOMAS C. TYRRELL, OF GLENDIVE, MONTANA.

PLATFORM F'OF? FREIGHT-CARS.

STECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,452, dated March31, 1891.

Application filed July 22, 1890.

.To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. TYRRELL, of Glendive, in the countyofDawson and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Platformfor Freight-Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved platformspecially designed for freight-cars and adapted to close the spacebetween the ends of the adjoining cars in the train, to prevent brakemenfrom falling between the cars when passing from one car to the other.

The invention consists of a platform pivoted to the end of a car andadapted to fold onto the car end or extend horizontally therefrom.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details andcombinations of the same, as will be hereinafter fully described, andthen pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement as applied and in afolded position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in an extendedposition. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan View of one end of the platform,and Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of the same.

The improved platform A is secured to each end of the freight-car l3 andnear the top of the latter, as is plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Eachplatform A is provided with two side bars 0 and 0, connected with eachother by the transverse rods D, E, and F, of which the transverse rod Dis mounted to turn in a number of screw-eyes G, secured to the timber ofthe car end.

The several rods D, E, and F are connected with each other at suitableintervals by strips l-I, supporting transversely-extending corrugatediron plates 1, so as to form a net-work sufficiently close to preventthe brakemans foot from passing between the meshes when stepping on theplatform. In order to hold the several plates l-l apart, washers J areintroduced between the same and preferably held on the rod E, as isplainly shown in Fig. 1.

Near the ends of the rod E are pivoted two side bars K and K, connectedwith each other Serial No. 359,477. (No model.)

at their outer ends by a transverse rod L, so as to form a pivotedextension on the platform A, which extension is free to swing upwardwhen the platform is extended and the two cars come close together. Inorder to hold this extension in horizontal position on the mainplatform, the inner ends of the said bars K and K are each provided witha shoulder K (see Figs. 3 and 4,) which shoulder is adapted to engagethe under side of the transverse rod F, so that when the platform isheld in a horizontal position the extension is in the same position, butis free to swing upward. The said bars K and K are also connected witheach other between the rods E and L with a corrugated plate K similar tothe plates I, previously mentioned.

To the outside of the side beam C is pivoted a link 0, guided in asuitable keeper P, fastened to the side of the car B opposite the sidecontaining the usual ladder by which brakemen can reach the top of thecar or descend from the same. The link 0 is articulated and is pivotallyconnected with the upper end of a lever Q, fulcrumed at Q on the side ofthe car 13, and is guided in the keeper R, fastened to the side of thecar. On the lower end of the lever Q is hinged a handle S, which servesto conveniently move the lever Q so as to throw the platform A into ahorizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, or to throw the same againstthe end of the car, as is plainly illustrated in Fig. 1. The handle S isadapted to be locked in its two extreme positions in recesses formed bybent flanges T and T ,formed on a bar T secured to the side of the car.Then the handle S is moved under the flange T, it may be locked in placeby a cam-lever U, fulcrumed on the right-hand end of the bar T lVhen thecam-lever U is thrown out of contact with the edge of the handle S, thelatter can be moved from under the flange T, so as to shift the lever Qinto its left position, as is shown in Fig. l. The handle S is thenpassed under the flange T, and locked therein by a camlever U, similarto the cam-lever U, and fulcrumed on the left-hand end of the bar T Whenthe handle S engages the flange T, the platform extends in a horizontalposition, as is plainly shown in Fig. 2, and when thehandle S is lookedunder the flange T the plat form A is folded onto the end of the car.YVhen the train is in motion, the lever Q is in the position shown inFig. 2, and is locked in this position by its handle S engaging theflange T, with the cam-lever U locking the handle under the flange. Theplatform extends now in or about in a horizontal position, so that abrakeman when stepping from one car to another and missing his footingfalls onto the platforms A, without any danger whatever of fallingbetween the cars to the track to be injured.

Vhen the train is not in motion and the platform not needed, the lever Qis shifted, as previously described, so that the platform folds againstthe end of the car, as is plainly shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus fully described my-invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with a platform pivoted tothe end of the car, of a link pivotally connected with one side of thesaid platform, .a lever pivoted to the side of the car and connectedwith the said link, and a locking mechanism, substantially as described,for locking the said lever in position when the platform is extended orfolded onto the end of the car, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a platform pivoted to the end of thefreight-car, of a link pivotally connected with one side of the saidplatform, a lever fulcrumed on one side of the car and connected withthe said link, a handle hinged on the said lever, and two locks adaptedto alternately engage the said handle to lock the said lever in positionwhen the platform extends horizontally or is folded onto the end of thecar, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with a platform pivoted to the end of thefreight-car, of an extension pivoted to the end of the said platform andextending in line with the same and adapted to swing upward,substantially as shown and described.

4. A platform for cars, comprising side bars, transverse rods connectingthe sidebars together, plates connecting the rods together, and stripson the said plates, substantially as described.

5. A platform for cars, comprising side bars, transverse rods connectingthe side bars together, plates connected to the rods, and corrugatedstrips on the said plates, substantially as described.

6. A platform for cars, consisting of side bars, transverse rodsconnecting the side bars together, plates connecting the rods together,strips on the plates, and auxiliary side bars pivoted to one of thetransverse rods and connected together by rods and a plate,substantially as herein shown and described.

7. The combination, with a platform pivoted to the end of a car, of ajointed link pivoted to the platform, a hinged and pivoted lever pivotedto the link, a bar provided with flanges to receive the lever, andpivoted camlevers for locking the lever in the flanges of the bar,substantially as herein shown and described.

THOMAS C. TYRRELL.

Witnesses:

J. W. GILMORE, D. CAvANnUGH.

